Corpus: Inferior labial artery
from Latin: arteria - artery, labium - lip
1. Definition
The inferior labial artery is a branch of the facial artery that supplies the lower lip with arterial blood.
2. Course
The inferior labial artery arises from the facial artery near the corner of the mouth. It ascends and moves forward under the depressor anguli oris muscle, then pierces the orbicularis oris muscle. It meanders within the tissue between the labial mucosa and the orbicularis oris muscle along the upper edge of the lower lip. The artery anastomoses with its counterpart from the opposite side and with the mental branch of the inferior alveolar artery.